Betty Parsons Gallery records and personal papers, 1916-1991, bulk 1946-1983

This subseries consists of files that Parsons retained from her work at the Wakefield Gallery and the Mortimer Brandt Gallery. Files include correspondence, clippings, group exhibition files, announcements, catalogs, photographs, and exhibition and price lists.

Found here are files from Betty Parsons's job as director of the Wakefield Gallery, including clippings, correspondence, announcements, exhibition files, exhibition lists, schedules, invoices, receipts and a scrapbook of clippings and exhibition announcements created from a bound dummy copy of A Treasury of Art Masterpieces. There are no solo exhibition files, only files for the themed exhibitions, Love in Art (1941), Ballet in Art (1942), and Pre-Columbian Stone Sculpture (1944). The Pre-Columbian Stone Sculpture exhibition files are of particular note as they contain vintage photographs by Aaron Siskind of the sculptures that were produced for reproduction in the exhibition catalogue.

Found here are select files stemming from Betty Parsons work as the head of the contemporary art section of Mortimer Brandt Gallery. The files consist of clippings, correspondence, announcements, catalogs, exhibition files, and exhibition lists. As with the files from Wakefield Gallery above, these files do not constitute a complete record of Parsons' work with the Mortimer-Brandt Gallery. Exhibition files exist solely for the two exhibitions; Abstract and Surrealist Art in America (1944) and Portraits of Today by Painters of Tomorrow (1945). There is also correspondence between Parsons and Mortimer Brandt, some of which concerns lease arrangements for Parsons subletting half of the fifth floor of 15 East 57th Street to open her own gallery. There is also correspondence between Parsons and Sidney Janis, who sublet the rest of the floor for his gallery beginning in 1953.

Found here are scattered personal papers, such as Parsons's artist biography, family trees for the Pierson and Miles families, association membership cards, two interview transcripts, thirteen passports, travel itineraries, photographs, and a mailing list of invitees for Parsons' Memorial. The folder containing miscellaneous personal papers includes ephemera, handwritten notes, an American Red Cross employment application, a small watercolor landscape by Lynn Yarnell, and several unsigned sketches.

Photographs in this subseries include snapshots and professional portraits, the bulk of which span the mid-1960s to early 1980s. Most of the photographs feature Parsons, but there are photographs of others that are not identified as well as beach views, perhaps taken near her Southold, Long Island Studio, and photographs of Parsons at her St. Martin's home. There is one photograph of Parsons and Marie Carr Taylor taken by Henri Cartier-Bresson for Vogue magazine, circa 1960s. Additionally there is a folder of photographs of works of art, primarily paintings, depicting Betty Parsons.

A significant portion of the files in this series chronicle Betty Parsons's activities related to the art world. As a renowned art dealer and respected artist, Parsons was a frequently requested speaker, juror for juried art exhibitions, and awards honoree. Her participation at these events is recorded through correspondence, invitations, programs, and award certificates. Noteworthy files include "The Creative in Art" seminar at Sarah Lawrence College, which includes syllabus and extensive notes for ten lectures. There is also a group of folders that document her social and volunteer activities.

Series consists of Parsons's incoming and outgoing correspondence originally maintained within her personal papers, although it appears to be a mixture of personal and professional correspondence. It includes not only letters from friends and family, but also from museum directors, art dealers, researchers, gallery artists, and artists seeking representation from the Betty Parsons Gallery. General correspondence primarily consists of personal letters from friends, while chronological correspondence includes primarily business-related letters. No attempt was made to reconcile the two systems since this arrangement may have originated with the creator.

Files mostly consist of correspondence with friends and artists with whom Parsons had a personal relationship, although letters touching upon gallery business are scattered throughout. As close friends, many of the artists shared details about their personal and family life, travels, work, and careers. Gallery artist correspondents include Larry Bigelow, Alexander Calder, and William Condon. Of particular note are letters from Ad Reinhardt discussing his work in relation to the gallery and exhorting Parsons to fight for her (and his) rightful place in history. Another significant and prolific correspondent is the English artist Adge Baker, with whom Parsons had a romantic relationship. The two lived together for several years in the house that Parsons purchased shortly after she arrived in Paris in 1923. Although they separated in 1932, they remained life long friends. There are also personal letters from Marjorie Liebman and Aline Porter that include details about Parsons's romantic relationships with both women, as well as details about their careers. Another prolific correspondent is artist Etienne Ret.

Notable friends and other correspondents include heiress and world-class speed boat racer Joe Carstairs, the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava (Lindy Guinness), art critic Rosalind Constable, and art and literary critic Dale McConathy, who briefly worked for Parsons as a gallery assistant. Personal correspondence also includes Christmas cards, postcards, telegrams, and third party correspondence to gallery employees and Lee Hall, Parsons's biographer and gallery artist. Many of the Christmas cards include original artwork in a variety of media, and have been arranged with other artwork sent to Parsons by various artists over the years.

These files reflect how deeply Parsons's life was intertwined with the gallery as correspondence with dealers, museum directors, researchers, collectors, arts organizations, gallery staff, and artists predominate in this subseries, although letters from friends are scattered throughout. Letters address a variety of topics including requests for Parsons to be a jurist for juried exhibitions, exhibitions and sales of her own art work, references for artists, requests for interviews, questions from researchers, and communications from gallery staff. Letters from Jock Truman, include his original cover letter (1961) and updates concerning gallery business (1964, 1966-1968, and 1972).

Letters from Parsons include a letter of introduction for her former husband Schuyler Parsons to Peggy Guggenheim (1965) and a suggestion to collector Paul Mellon (1976) that Barnett Newman's Stations of the Cross belongs in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.. Parsons response to a researcher (1979) provides her insights concerning the early history of the gallery and her connection with the Abstract Expressionists. Other significant correspondents include Ossip Zadkine (1956), Jacqueline Monnier (1978 and 1982), and Judith Rothschild (1980). Finally, letters that post-date Parsons death in July, 1982 include condolence letters to gallery staff and correspondence between Jack Tilton, her former assistant at the gallery and William Rayner, her nephew and the executer of her estate, to establish prices for her art work.

This subseries documents travel undertaken by Parsons in the United States and abroad, including trips to Europe, Japan, Russia, Poland, and Zaire. Records document travel arrangements and itineraries, and include letters from gallery employees to Parsons informing her of goings-on at the gallery during her absences. There is a group photo, including Parsons, from her 1958 trip to Japan. The folder recording her trip to Turkey folder includes a draft of a letter written by Parsons after she received the news of Barnett Newman's death, and a note to Ellsworth Kelly. The files on her 1976 trip to England and Ireland document an exhibition of her work at the David Hendriks Gallery in August 1976, and a Theo McNab exhibition, presented by David Hendriks at the Cork Arts Society Gallery and opened by Parsons. Records include lists of artwork, correspondence, press coverage, and photographs, including two photos of Parsons with McNab and Hendriks. Also found in these records is correspondence with artist Maria Gooding, whom Parsons visited during the trip, regarding plans for an exhibition of Gooding's work in 1977 at Betty Parsons Gallery. Gooding's correspondence encloses photos of Parsons

Files primarily consist of small Smythson leather pocket diaries in which Parsons noted lunch and dinner engagements, openings, and other appointments, thereby providing a sense of her daily activities. As with Parsons's life, personal and gallery life are intertwined in the pages. Frequently the endpapers were used to note names, address and phone numbers. The diaries span from 1933-1981, although they do not represent a complete run. The series also includes several address books and four engagement calendars.

Three notebooks from the 1960s appear to relate to gallery business as they contain references, to artists, works of art, and museums. The 1980-1982 notebook contains handwritten drafts of correspondence; most of the notebook pages are left blank. There are also journal notes from 1928 and 1953.

According to biographical accounts, Betty Parsons was an avid sketcher, having acquired the habit dating from her studies with the English artist Arthur Lindsay in the 1930s. This subseries includes forty-eight of her sketchbooks of varying sizes, many of which are annotated with diary entries and other notes, such as 1951 notes for her WNYC Radio Arts Festival Interview, a transcript of which can be found in 7.2: Biographical Materials, as well as records of trips with Aline Porter and family, Agnes Martin, and others. The sketchbooks contain abstract, landscape, and figurative drawings and paintings in ink, felt tip marker, gouache, pencil, and other media.

Also found are two notebooks containing dress patterns by Parsons, and some loose sketches and other artwork by unidentified artists. Some of the sketches may be by Parsons.

Writings by Parsons include poems and statements written about various artists which were often used in announcements and catalogs for exhibitions at the gallery. Also found here are miscellaneous writings and fragments expressing or representing the formation of Parsons's ideas about art and life.

Found here are articles, poems, essays, and unpublished manuscripts mostly about Parsons and the Betty Parsons Gallery, including a typescript for an unpublished monograph, "An American Gallery," written by art critic Lawrence Alloway. Related correspondence can be found in the Alloway folders in the Betty Parsons Papers Correspondence files. Also included is a proposal for a documentary film about Betty Parsons titled "Keeper of the Treasure"; it does not appear that this project was realized. Other writings are related to art, dance, and poetry, including a notebook of poems by Parsons Gallery artist, Dorothy Sturm. Two folders of material relate to Lee Hall's biography of Parsons.

Files are arranged by alphabetically by author, followed by one file of miscellaneous essays and poems.

Printed Material includes catalogs and announcements for exhibitions at Betty Parsons Gallery and other galleries, offsets of articles, magazines, clippings from newspapers and magazines.

Announcements and catalogs files include printed material from the Wakefield Gallery, Mortimer Brandt Gallery, Betty Parsons Gallery, as well as other galleries. Much of this material is duplicated in other series including Artists Files and Other Gallery Records.

The bulk of magazine and newspaper clippings feature Betty Parsons in her role as artist, art dealer, or collector. The file of the 1967 House and Garden feature on her Long Island Studio includes photographs, some of which appear to have been used in the article. This subseries also includes clippings on artists, particularly those whom Parsons represented, general art and architecture files, files of clippings and cartoons on miscellaneous subjects, presumably of interest to Parsons, and a video recording about the I Ching.

These files chronicle Betty Parsons's artistic career through announcements, catalogs, correspondence, inventories, price lists, sales invoices, loan forms and photographs. The majority of photographs are reproductions of works of art, although installation shots are scattered throughout.

This subseries documents Betty Parsons's personal art collection through inventories, correspondence, clippings, photographs, loan agreements, sales and purchase invoices, and photographs of artwork.

Institutions and museums often requested loans from Parsons' personal collection for exhibitions. Exhibition files consist of announcements, catalogs, correspondence, and clippings. Additionally Parsons' gave works of art from her collection to institutions and museums and these gifts are recorded in the "Gifts of work" files. Some of the documents in this subseries document appraisals of the collection following Parsons' death in 1982

Records in this extensive subseries provide insights into Parsons's personal financial affair documenting her investments, banking accounts, family estates (including her own will and testament) and real estate holdings. Since her work as an art dealer was her primary source of income, financial information relevant to the Betty Parsons Gallery can be found within her personal tax records.